Tang+and+Song+Dynasties


 * __Primary Source Analysis__**

__Document: Ties That Bind: Paths to Power__ Nui Su wrote the story about Wu Bao || What do we know about where this was created? What have we learned about this topic? Society that may be relevant? || The Tang Dynasty was formed after the collapse of the Sui in 618; the Tang Dynasty hoped to carry on what the Sui was unable to complete; Buddhism was revived in Tang China by empress Wu, then dismantled by Wuzong at the end of the dynasty || Who is the intended audience? How might they receive this? – quotes to support your claims? || Wu Bao is trying to appeal to high officials in the imperial bureaucracy in order to try and get a position himself. He is trying to please the upper-class people “To a high official to whom Wu hoped to attach to himself and thus win advancement in the imperial bureaucracy.” || What is the purpose of this document? Read between the lines, support claims with a quote || Wu Bao wanted to move up the social hierarchy and gain a place in the government “If you will not overlook a man from your native place, be quick to bestow your special favour on me, so that I may render you service ‘as a humble groom.’” || Support with quotes || Wu wanted to gain a higher social position to be respected and make a better living. "Grant me some small salary." || How does this relate to the big picture? What can it tell us as historians? Relate to ESPIRIT if possible || Showed the desperation of the masses- working class wanted to become more powerful. Ability mattered much less than birthplace and family ties. || Questions? How is this document significant to the Tang government? Or Tang life in the working class? How does Wu’s desire to move up in social rank prove to be important?
 * Author – Who created this? What do we know about the author? What might influence their opinions? || Wu Bao- working class man looking for a position in the imperial bureaucracy; studied Confucian classics; if he was a believer in Confucianism, he wasn’t a Buddhist
 * **Place** – Where and when was it created - || Created in the Tang Empire in a short story; no specific date or location given (618 CE -907 CE) ||
 * **Prior Knowledge**
 * **Audience**
 * **Reason for Creation**
 * **The Main Idea**
 * **Significance**

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Tang and Song Chart

· Religious land wasn’t taxed · Wuzong started taxing after Yangzi’s rule · Xuanzong neglected state b/c of a woman, caused economic distress · Paper money; early banking · Yangdi ordered to improve education · Social-gentry class- role models, increased status · Rise in Confucius activity · Diamond Sutra- first book in printing press · Tang was known for their literature/poetry · Buddhism was the major practice of Tang society · Wendi united the Tang by marriage ties · Grand Canal- linked north China to Yangtze over 1200 miles ||  · Scholar-gentry class secured economy b/c there were so many people · Bureaucrats paid very high · Flying money expanded commerce · Scholar-gentry class was pampered · Wang Anshi led scholar-gentry class to analytical thinking · Neo-Confucianism advocated for social classes as rank, gender, age · Wealthy women took complimentary husbands · Foot binding became popular · Translated old Confucian texts to revive Confucianism in Song society · Wanted to get rid of Buddhism by teaching Daoism and Confucianism · Neo-Congucianism revived old Confucian beliefs · Explosive powder- led to grenades, fireworks, explosives · Abacus · compass ||  · Building of canal helped economy · Gov’t supervised trading · Traded on ships called junks · Scholar gentry-class became a very important class to the society · Connections and family ties were very important · Scholar-gentry class paid a lot for not doing much · Women still subordinate, but new laws protected them · Revival of civil service exams- rewarded with Jinshi title · Poetry was similar · Scientific and technological insight- abacus · Neo-Confucianism led to the belief of Chinese superiority- exported many goods, but limited imports- not much new knowledge · ||
 * Tang || Song || Shared ||
 * · Peasants and land owners were both taxed portions of their crops

Summary of Tang and Song:

The Tang dynasty had paved the way for the Song dynasty, which had sought to continue the Tang's success through economic, political, religious, and intellectual aspects. During the **Sui** dynasty the emperor **Wendi** had won support by lowering taxes and establishing granaries. **Yangdi,** Wendi's son**,** at first, supported his father in his political aspirations, but soon murdered him to take the throne. Yangdi, ultimately caused the Sui Dynasty to collapse after many unsuccessful raids. The **Tang** soon took control of China. The main goal of the Tang was to create a successful government. A bureaucracy was created. The bureaucracy had formed and opened the **Ministry of Rites,** a system used in both societies, government officials would hold exams and those who passed were allowed seats in the government and enjoyed a easy lifestyle. The bureaucracy was broken down all the way to the regional level. It weakened the aristocracy because it supported the creation of the **scholar-gentry class**. The executive department was broken into six ministries. In the Song dynasty, the civil service exams were much more lenient and straight forward, in return the **jinshi** as those who passed the exam were called had little to do and acquired a large amount of revenue because the exams weren't difficult. Many people passed the exams, which led to an over populated scholar-gentry class. There were too many gov't officials getting paid a lot of money to do nothing. The **Song Dynasty** was originally formed to expand and improve the ideas that the Tang sought to achieve.The Song's territory was relatively small compared to other dynasties, but land wasn't the government's main focus. The Song wanted to create a government that wouldn't collapse under regional rule. That is why the civil service exams were easy and there were many in the scholar-gentry class. The government was divided into 3 levels**:** district, provincial, and imperial.Paper money was a new source of currency introduced during the Tang dynasty. Paper money cost less to produce and led to the creation of factories which led to the employment of thousands. **Flying Money** was credit voucher that acted as money. It could be turned in for money at the appropriate office in the city of destination. This caused less fear of being robbed among the people.**Chinese junks** had allowed interactions with other countries. Junks were known to be the most able ships during the period, allowing both dynasties to trade and grow. However, Neo-Confucianism wanted to end interactions with other countries, it may be true that it did 'end' China's relations with others, but merchants and trading was still left intact. In both dynasties, **Neo-Confucianism** had claimed that Confucian and Daoist ideas should be followed instead of Buddhism. Tang had destroyed all Buddhist shrines especially the ones that **Empress Wu** had made under the influence of slave labor. No matter how both dynasties practiced Buddhism, the officials no longer accepted it. Therefore, Buddhism was split into **pure land** and **Zen.** This Neo-Confucian practice led to the common belief that China was superior to other nations. China had exported many goods and items, but few were imported, outside knowledge wasn't. Like other societies, both Tand and **Song** dynasties allowed their citizens to marry one another and move up the social ladder. Construction of canals had made the economy flourish. The **Grand Canal** connected roughly 1200 miles of land for trade. Pound locks were built on canals to allow different segments to be raised or lowered, which also regulated traffic.Gender roles were different in the **Song** dynasty. Women had to bind their feet when they were young. **Foot binding** was an important practice as higher class men considered these women beautiful. And families would use their daughters in order to gain an alliance and power through these practices. Binding feet eventually moved downwards towards the lower class. And under the influence of neo-Confucianism, women were thought to only had a place at home as a housewife rather than working outside. Also because foot binding was done to their feet, they had limited mobility. In the Song dynasty libraries had opened since education proved to play an important role in society. The libraries would contain thousands of book in order to reform education and religion. The **Tang** dynasty created the first book, the Diamond Sutra. Both dynasties had started their own realistic painting styles, painting sceneries and change. This era of change is known as the 'Chinese Renaissance' because a great change and reform had affected society. It was seen as a Renaissance because it was a revival of old Chinese beliefs and forms of art. Poetry and literature played a big role in society. Explosive weapons had cause China to win many battles as these gun power were also focused on to Chinese junks. And in both dynasties they concentrated on building defense such as the Great Wall to ward off nomads. The defense against nomadic tribes was important because the **Liao Empire** was taken over by Mongols.The Great Wall was built way back during the Qin Dynasty when Shi Huangdi was the ruler. His aspirations were to keep outside invaders away from the empire. This aspect had continued on throughout Chinese history.